Author: BBC

Actor Kiefer Sutherland announced the death of his father, Donald, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Source link

1 hour agoBy Laura Bicker, China correspondentUS ‘focused on reducing conflict’ with China, ambassador tells the BBC’s Laura BickerWashington and Beijing are talking more regularly to avoid a conflict in the South China Sea despite their “contentious and competitive” relationship, the United States ambassador to China has told the BBC.“Our militaries are operating in very close proximity to one another in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait. You don’t want to send the wrong signal,” Nicholas Burns said in an interview in Beijing earlier this week.The South China Sea has become a dangerous flashpoint, where Beijing’s claims are ratcheting…

13 minutes agoBy Kevin Peachey and Shanaz Musafer, BBC NewsGetty ImagesLabour and the Conservatives have accused each other of failing to match promises on housing, in what has become a key battleground in the election campaign.The Conservatives said they were offering a better deal on stamp duty, by permanently abolishing the levy for first-time buyers purchasing properties up to £425,000.Meanwhile, Labour said its more ambitious plans for energy efficiency in rental homes would protect tenants from higher energy bills.Many people who have got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote said that housing was the most important issue for…

A global alert about fake Ozempic – which has become popular as a way of losing weight – has been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).The drug is sometimes known as a “skinny jab” despite its main purpose being a treatment for type-2 diabetes. The WHO said the fake medicines could pose a danger to health. The organisation advised people to source the drug only through reputable sources, such as a doctor, rather than obscure sites online or through social media. The active ingredient in Ozempic – semaglutide – helps people with type-2 diabetes control the amount of sugar…

11 minutes agoBy Bernadette Allen, BBC News NIBBCBand member DJ Próvaí outside court with his solicitor Darragh MackinThe west Belfast rap group Kneecap has secured High Court permission to take legal action against the UK Government for blocking them from receiving a £15,000 funding award.The band has been granted leave to seek a judicial review into claims that denying the grant discriminates against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion.A judge agreed to list the case for a full hearing in November, after the group returns from a series of gigs in the United States.Outside court, band member DJ Próvaí said…

One of the world’s rarest cats, the Iberian lynx, is no longer classed as endangered, according to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).On Thursday the IUCN, which categorises species according to the level of risk they face in a “red list”, bumped the Iberian lynx from “endangered” to “vulnerable” after a significant surge in numbers. Its population grew from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022. While young and mature lynx combined now have an estimated population of more than 2,000, the IUCN reports. As the name suggests, the wild cat species calls…

Just nowBy Daniel Thomas and Tom Espiner, Business reportersEPAThe Post Office has apologised after it published the names and addresses of 555 postmasters prosecuted during the Horizon scandal.The company confirmed personal details had been shared in a document on its website and said it had referred itself to data watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office.One former sub-postmaster tweeted that the breach had caused “a great amount of upset, distress and anger” among colleagues.In response, chief executive Nick Read apologised and said the data leak was “a truly terrible error”.It comes as witnesses continue to give evidence at an inquiry into the Horizon IT…

This week Tech Life has a special programme about the technology of artificial limbs. Source link

None of the main political parties has yet set out convincing plans on how they will improve the NHS, a leading health think tank says.The Health Foundation said on current spending projections there appeared to be a £38bn-a-year shortfall in England in what would be needed by the end of the next Parliament.The think tank said that would put plans such as tackling the NHS backlog, improving GP care and redeveloping hospitals at risk.Neither Labour nor the Conservatives have said how much they will invest in the NHS, while the Liberal Democrats’ pledge is well short of what the Health…

MDCRTravis Scott was detained under his real name, Jacques Bermon WebsterTravis Scott has been arrested in Miami on suspicion of disorderly intoxication and trespassing.The rapper was booked into custody at 04:35 local time, according to official records.An entry on the Miami-Dade County Corrections Department’s website says the 33-year-old was detained under his real name, Jacques Bermon Webster.Local news station WSNV-7 reported that the arrest was linked to a disturbance on a charter boat at Miami Beach Marina.BBC Newsbeat has contacted Miami Beach Police Department for further information.Travis Scott is a Grammy Award nominee and arguably one of the biggest hip-hop…